19.05.03
The Duke of Cornwall explores Cornish
food and farming at Objective One showcase event
His Royal Highness The Duke of Cornwall has praised the Objective
One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for acting
as a catalyst to bring lasting economic and social change
to the region.
The Prince was speaking at an Objective One showcase event
in Cornwall on May 7th where he was shown examples of Objective
One investment in local food and drink, sustainable tourism
and the creative industries.
The Prince took a tour around a range of exhibits which all
demonstrated how Objective One investment has made real differences
to the industries and businesses of Cornwall.
In an exhibit called 'Cooking Cornwall' the Prince commented
on the smell of some locally produced sizzling sausages, and
found out from Cornwall Taste of the West's manager Carol
Trewin about the many high quality products produced in Cornwall.
This included perfectly ripened juicy strawberries and a vast
range of cheeses, after which the Prince sampled some Cornish
apple juice.
Three of Cornwall's top young chefs; Ben Tunnicliffe of The
Abbey in Penzance, Gareth Eddy of Pescadou restaurant in Padstow
and Paul Ripley of Ripleys in St Merryn chatted to the Prince
about the importance of putting quality local ingredients
back on the Cornish Menu.
Pescadou's Chef Gareth Eddy said: "It was an honour
to be invited to the event to show the Prince how local restaurateurs
and businesses are recognising the environmental, taste and
commercial advantages of sourcing ingredients locally.
"I was impressed by the Prince's in-depth knowledge
of Cornish produce and was delighted that he shared our passion
for sustainability, the quality of ingredients and an appreciation
of product seasonality.”
In the Harvesting Cornwall exhibit the Prince learnt from
St Austell Brewery's Managing Director James Staughton how
the Maris Otter Barley used in their Tribute Bitter was sourced
from local grain merchant Kernow Grain and grown by Cornish
farmers. Produced at the family-owned brewery with 150 years
of brewing history and one of only 34 independently owned
breweries in the country.
David Simmons, Managing Director of Riviera produce, a West
Cornwall vegetable grower and packaging company which works
with 40 local growers to supply fresh fruit and vegetables
locally and nationally commented on the Prince's interest
in local agriculture: "The Prince was impressed with strawberries and potatoes
on display and was told that both were Cornish new season
crops, of which we were proud to tell him that our potatoes
we were earlier than Jersey this year!
"The Prince was interested to hear how a marketing campaign
is being used to push sales of Cornish earlies both locally
and nationally and we discussed the importance of good marketing
to boost growers incomes and replace imported produce currently
on supermarket shelves.”
In another of the exhibition rooms that contained displays
on how Cornwall's sustainable industries are being helped
by Objective One, the Prince admired products made in Cornwall
from local woodlands by local craftsmen.
Moving on from the exhibitions, the Prince heard from three
young presenters about how Objective One is helping Cornwall's
agricultural, fish and cultural industries as well as working
with partners to conserve Cornwall’s natural environment.
Speaking to an invited audience of more than 100 guests,
the Prince said: “Sixteen years ago at a conference in
Newquay, I outlined what I thought were the challenges Cornwall
needed to meet to improve the economic and social prospects
for everyone in the years ahead. I have been enormously impressed
today by the progress made with these challenges, particularly
by advances in promoting Cornish grown and processed food
and drink. I am also delighted to see food producers focusing
on adding value to their products and, crucially, Objective
One funds are providing financial support to enable them to
do so.”
He said: “The marketing challenge, I believe, is for
Cornwall not only to be, but to be seen to be flexible enough
to respond to the opportunities presented by a changing world,
without sacrificing the very foundations on which it is based.”
The Prince concluded by returning to the themes of his 1987
speech: “To return briefly to 1987, I argued that Cornwall
required a major catalyst to bring all interested parties
together to create a common determination to improve the economic
and social prospects for everyone in the years ahead. I believe
that Objective One is that catalyst, and I suspect partnerships
have been forged that were unimaginable then.
“But Cornwall cannot afford to rest on its laurels,
Objective One presents a finite window of opportunity, with
no certainty at this stage that further funding will be available
after 2006. I sincerely hope that it will be available, so
that you can finish the job you have started.
“However, whatever happens, it is imperative to the
success of Cornwall’s continuing evolution that whatever
you do now must be both balanced and to have the highest standard
and be designed to last, because, as our legacy to out children,
it will have a lasting social and economic impact for years
to come.”
Speaking after the Truro College event, which was held on
Wednesday, Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One
Partnership, said: “The Prince took a close interest
in the range of projects in which Objective One has invested.
He was clearly impressed by the advances we have seen in Cornwall
and Scilly in just a few short years. He was particularly
interested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall and we
will be keeping him informed of significant developments as
they happen.”
Editor's notes:
Jason Clark
Communications Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
jason@dclark.co.uk
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